Scarlet Sports Shorts

As Rutgers gets set to officially become a member of the Big Ten Conference in July, it’s never too early to check out the new Rutgers Football Heritage Collection, which features T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other items that were designed by Rutgers Magazine’s own art director, John VanCleaf. The collection is available at the Barnes & Noble at Rutgers in New Brunswick. To place orders online, go to rutgers.bncollege.com.

In a game against Notre Dame that remained tight until the fourth quarter, quarterback Chas Dodd found NFL-bound Brandon Coleman for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Fighting Irish prevailed in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, held at Yankee Stadium, 29–16.

Photography:

Rutgers Athletics Communications

Fighting the Fighting Irish

The University of Notre Dame prevailed over the Scarlet Knights football team, 29–16, in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, held at Yankee Stadium on December 28. Appearing in its eighth bowl game in the last nine seasons, the Scarlet Knights (6–7) kept the game close into the fourth quarter.

Follow the Bouncing Ball

The Rutgers–Camden men’s soccer team came within a goal of winning the NCAA Division III national championship in December before losing in double overtime to powerhouse Messiah College, 2–1. It was the Scarlet Raptors’ first championship appearance, one of many firsts during the season (23-1-2). Head coach Tim Oswald, completing his eighth season at Rutgers (122-39-22), was named the 2013 NSCAA/Field Turf Division III Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year.

En route to its first appearance in a NCAA Division III championship game, the Rutgers–Camden men’s soccer team won its third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference championship by beating the Rutgers–Newark men’s soccer team, 2–0.

Photography:

Curt Hudson

In November, the Scarlet Raptors won their third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship, 2–0, beating, of all teams, Rutgers–Newark in the first NJAC championship game to pit the two. Both teams advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, a first for the Scarlet Raiders, who lost to Roger Williams in the opening round, 3–1. Forward Raphael Araujo was named to the D3soccer.com All-America Team and was the 2013 Division III Metro Offensive Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights women’s soccer team lost to West Virginia, 3–0, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Graduating standout Jonelle Filigno was allocated to Sky Blue FC for the 2014 season by the National Women’s Soccer League.

Alexi Lalas, the only Rutgers soccer player to receive three All-America honors, will be inducted into Mich­igan’s Sports Hall of Fame, adding to his accolades. Lalas RC’92 played a big part in the Scarlet Knights’ 15-match unbeaten streak that led to Rutgers’ first number-one ranking in 1991.

New High-Water Marks

Asha Ruth, a star on the Scarlet Knights’ indoor track-and-field team, set a school record in the 300-meter dash (39.50) at the New Year’s Invitational, as did the 4x400 relay team (3:51.22), consisting of Nicole Nicholas, Alayna Famble, Jillian Grant, and Ruth. Corey Crawford set a school record for the long jump (7.79 meters), tops in the nation. Track and field’s Sam Segond RC’06 and the 1970 men’s sprint medley national championship team were inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in November. The Class of 2013 also featured women’s basketball’s Tammy Sutton-Brown RC’01, baseball’s Bobby Brownlie, football’s Tom Holmes, and two-time All-American and Olympian women’s rower Maite Urtasun.

Honoring a New Tradition

To mark the 35th anniversary of women’s golf at Rutgers–New Brunswick, the inaugural Unger-DeBlasio Cup took place in October, honoring founders Jan Unger and Art DeBlasio. Athletes and the athletic staffs at Rutgers–Newark collected more than 460 pairs of shoes for the Soles 4 Souls Shoe Drive in the fall. The shoes are donated to people living in poverty or who have been victims of a disaster, at home and abroad.